Footwear Support

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for supporting footwear includes a pair of inner support members having approximately a same length and a same width and having a continuous or detachable tether attached to extend between the support members. The pair of inner support members are configured to be inserted into a pair of footwear to support the sleeves of the footwear. The inner support members are typically made of a pliable but resilient foam material. End caps can support the tether and provide identifying indicia. Optionally, an air freshener can be attached to or embedded within the support members.

RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 62/057,619 filed Sep. 30, 2014, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to footwear, and more specifically to providing support for footwear having extended sleeve portions that extend above the ankle and/or up the leg during storage of the footwear.

BACKGROUND

Footwear comes in a large variety of shapes, sizes, and styles. Accordingly, organized storage of footwear can be difficult. Shoe trees address this problem by providing a structure on which the footwear can be mounted when not worn. The phrase “shoe tree” can apply to different types of structures. In one, the shoe tree is shaped to fit inside of footwear to maintain its shape when not worn. This type of shoe tree will be referred to as a “shaping shoe tree,” an example of which that is designed for boots is illustrated as inserted into a boot in FIG. 1. Shaping shoe trees are typically very specifically designed to fit the particular footwear. For instance, with reference to FIG. 1, shaping shoe trees for boots often have two pieces 110 and 115 of shaped wood or hard plastic with an adjustable support 120 between the two pieces 110 and 115 configured to bias the two pieces 110 and 115 against opposing inner portions of the boot 130. Such shoe trees are generally expensive in view of the materials used, specific shaping of the shaping shoe tree to fit the footwear, and/or complexity of the support structure or are otherwise not very durable.

FIG. 2 illustrates another type of shoe tree 205 that includes a plurality of support structures 210 on which footwear 220 can be mounted, typically by slipping the footwear 220 onto the support structure 210 with the support structure 210 sliding into the footwear's space in which the foot is placed. In this manner, the footwear mounts usually with the toe portion facing upward away from the floor. In this approach, the shoe tree is used to organize storage of a plurality of footwear, for instance in a closet. This second type of shoe tree will be referred to as a “storage shoe tree,” an example of which is provided in FIG. 2. When applied to footwear with extended sleeve portions (defined as the portion that extends over the ankle and higher on the wearer when the footwear is worn), however, such storage shoe trees fail to provide adequate and low cost support. For example, boots and other such footwear generally do not have sleeves with sufficient strength to maintain its shape when mounted on a storage shoe tree. Instead, such footwear is stored by hanging from the storage shoe tree using extension from the boot or a shaping shoe tree inserted into the boot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above needs are at least partially met through provision of the footwear support described in the following detailed description, particularly when studied in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 comprises a perspective view of a prior art shaping shoe tree;

FIG. 2 comprises a perspective view of a prior art storing shoe tree for a boot as inserted into a boot;

FIG. 3 comprises a perspective view of a shaping shoe tree as configured in accordance with various embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 4 comprises a perspective view of a shaping shoe tree inserted into a boot as configured in accordance with various embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 5 comprises a cross-sectional view of a portion of a shaping shoe tree as configured in accordance with various embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 6 comprises a flow diagram of a method of supporting footwear using a shaping shoe tree as configured in accordance with various embodiments of the invention.

Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions and/or relative positioning of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various embodiments of the present invention. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments. It will further be appreciated that certain actions and/or steps may be described or depicted in a particular order of occurrence while those skilled in the art will understand that such specificity with respect to sequence is not actually required. It will also be understood that the terms and expressions used herein have the ordinary technical meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions by persons skilled in the technical field as set forth above except where different specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Generally speaking, pursuant to these various embodiments, an apparatus for supporting footwear includes a pair of inner support members having approximately a same length and a same width and having a tether attached to extend between the support members. The pair of inner support members are configured to be inserted into a pair of footwear to support the sleeves of the footwear. The inner support members are typically made of a pliable but resilient foam material. So configured, the inner support members can resiliently engage the inner portions of the footwear's sleeve for support, are inexpensively manufactured, and can readily facilitate use in traveling by adding little weight and not posing problems in, for example, airport security. These and other benefits may become clearer upon making a thorough review and study of the following detailed description.

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 3 and 4, an example apparatus for supporting footwear compatible with many of these teachings will now be presented. A pair of inner support members 310 and 315 have approximately a same length and a same width, the width suitable for fitting into a foot opening 410 of footwear 405. The foot opening 410 is defined by a sleeve 420 configured to extend over an ankle of a wearer. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the pair of inner support members 310 and 315 are configured to be inserted into a pair of matching footwear 405 to support the sleeves 420 of the footwear 405. The inner support members' 310 and 315 lengths are suitable for extending between a sole 425 and the foot opening 410 of the footwear 405. For example, the length of the pair of inner support members 310 and 315 can be between about two inches to about 24 inches or any other length suitable to extend between the sole 425 and foot opening 410 of the footwear's sleeve 420. The width of the pair of inner support members 310 and 315 is between about three inches to about 14 inches or any other suitable width to engage inner portions of the footwear's sleeve 420 to support the sleeve 420. In one example, the inner support member can have a width that engages the inner portion of the sleeve 420 sufficiently to support the sleeve 420 of the footwear 405 when the footwear 405 is inserted onto a support structure of a storage shoe tree.

The cross-sectional shape of the inner support member 310 or 315 can be any of a variety of shapes including, for example, circular, elliptical, octagonal, hexagonal, or oval, any of which provide sufficient contact within the inner sleeve to resiliently engage and support it. The inner support members 310 and 315 can be made of a resilient foam material such as polyethlene. Advantageously, this type of material is inexpensive, can be readily and inexpensively manufactured into any of the above shapes, and provides giving yet firm support to the inner surface of the footwear's sleeve. Moreover, such a material could be easily and further shaped by an end user to more specifically fit the sleeve of a particular piece of footwear.

Turning again to FIGS. 3 and 4, a tether 320 is attached to extend between one end 330 and 335, respectively, of each of the inner support members 310 and 315. The tether 320 keeps the inner support members 310 and 315 together to reduce risk of loss of one and to facilitate removal of the support members 310 and 315 from the footwear. A rope, string, chain, clasp, or other suitable arrangement can be used for a tether. For instance, the tether can be a string or rope as illustrated that is attached to the inner support members. In another approach, the tether can be a chain or clasp that is attachable and removable from the end of the inner support member. In a case where the tether 320 can be readily removed from one of the support members, a second differently shaped support member can be substituted if non-matching footwear is desired to be stored together. End caps 340 and 345 are disposed at the ends 330 and 335 of the inner support members 310 and 315. The end caps 340 and 345 are typically constructed of a hard material such as a hard plastic or a customizable metal. In one approach, the end caps 340 and 345 can be secured to the inner support members 310 and 315 such as by being glued or keyed to the ends 330 and 335 of the inner support members 310 and 315 to provide, for example, additional stability of the support member material and/or to provide a means for attaching the tether to the support members. By one approach, the tether 320 attaches to the end caps 340 and 345. In another approach, the tether 320 extends through the end caps 340 and 345 and end caps 350 and 355 attached to the opposite ends of the inner support members 310 and 315 as illustrated in FIG. 3. Here the tether 320 is knotted to thereby secure the end caps 350 and 355 to the inner support members 310 and 315 and allow for some flexibility in the end caps 340 and 345 through which the tether 320 extends. In this approach, the end caps can be readily replaced and inner support members swapped out for different pairings.

Optionally, the end caps 340 and 345 and/or 350 and 355 may be marked with identifying indicia 450. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the end cap 340 is stamped, embossed, engraved, or otherwise marked with an “R” or a corporate logo. In this case, if multiple people store footwear in a common space, the footwear can be identified by the end caps 340 and 345 for the inner support members 310 and 315 supporting the sleeves of the footwear.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the inside of the inner support members 310 can be constructed in a variety of ways. To reduce weight and material costs, the inside of the support member 310 can include a hollow portion defined by inner walls 505 of the inner support member 310. The tether 320 can extend through this hollow portion to attach (either permanently or removably) to the end cap 350. Optionally, an air freshener material 510 can be disposed on or in the inner support members 310. Such air fresheners are well known in the art. Here, they can be disposed in a variety of places and ways to provide particular scents while inserted into footwear. For instance, the air freshener material 510 can be placed in the hollow space when attached to either or both of the end caps 340 and 350. If the end caps 340 and/or 350 are removable, then these air freshener materials 510 can be periodically replaced. In another approach, the air freshener material 510 can be embedded into the inner support member 310. In still another approach, the air freshener material 510 can be mounted on an outside portion of the end cap 350 that is first inserted into the footwear to more directly provide the air freshening to the inside of the footwear. Other ways of disposing the air freshener material 510 relative to the inner support members 310 and 315 are possible.

Turning to FIG. 6, a method of supporting footwear using inner support members such as those described above will be discussed. An inner portion of a footwear's sleeve is engaged 610 with a first inner support member having a length suitable for extending between a sole and the sleeve's foot opening for the footwear. The inner support member's width resiliently supports 620 the sleeve of the footwear when the inner support member is inserted in the sleeve. Steps 610 and 620 can be repeated for a second inner support member being inserted in the second of a pair of the footwear. Optionally, then, the footwear can be mounted onto a storage shoe tree, in which case the inner support member's width supports 630 the sleeve of the footwear when the inner support member is inserted in the sleeve and a support structure of a storage shoe tree is inserted into the sleeve. In another optional aspect, an air freshener material disposed on or in the first inner support member modifies 640 a scent of the footwear. Then, when the footwear is ready to be worn, the inner support member can be withdrawn 650 from either or both of the pair of footwear by tensioning a tether attached to extend from one end of the inner support members.

So configured, an easy to manufacture and relatively inexpensive shaping shoe tree can be used to maintain a shape of boots and similar footwear. The resilient foam or similar material readily supports the footwear's sleeve without unduly catching on the footwear during insertion and extraction given the material's ability to give yet still support the footwear. Identifying information can be provided on the support members' end caps, and extraction is readily facilitated by a tether that also reduces the odds of losing one of the pair of support members. Optionally, an air freshener can be included with the support members that can be readily replaced.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that a wide variety of modifications, alterations, and combinations can be made with respect to the above described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention, and that such modifications, alterations, and combinations are to be viewed as being within the ambit of the inventive concept. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for supporting footwear, the apparatus comprising: a pair of inner support members having approximately a same length and a same width, the width suitable for fitting into a foot opening of footwear, the foot opening defined by a sleeve configured to extend over an ankle of a wearer, the length suitable for extending between a sole and the foot opening of the footwear; a tether attached to extend between one end of each of the inner support members; wherein the pair of inner support members are configured to be inserted into a pair of the footwear to support the sleeves of the footwear.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the length of the pair of inner support members is between about 2 inches to about 24 inches.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pair of inner support members are configured to engage inner portion of the sleeve sufficient to support the sleeves of the footwear when the footwear are inserted onto a support structure of a storage shoe tree.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the width of the pair of inner support members is between about 3 inches to about 14 inches.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the inner support members have a cross-sectional shape being one of circular, elliptical, octagonal, hexagonal, or oval.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pair of inner support members comprise a resilient foam material.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising end caps secured to the ends of the inner support members to which the tether is attached.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the tether is attached to the end caps.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an air freshener material disposed on or in the inner support members.
 10. A method for supporting footwear, the method comprising: engaging an inner portion of a footwear's sleeve configured to extend over an ankle of a wearer with a first inner support member having a length suitable for extending between a sole and the sleeve's foot opening for the footwear; resiliently supporting the sleeve of the footwear with the inner support member's width when the inner support member is inserted in the sleeve; withdrawing the inner support member from the footwear by tensioning a tether attached to extend from one end of the inner support member.
 11. The method of claim 10 further comprising supporting the sleeve of the footwear with the inner support member's width when the inner support member is inserted in the sleeve and a support structure of a storage shoe tree is inserted into the sleeve.
 12. The method of claim 10 further comprising: engaging an inner portion of a second footwear's sleeve configured to extend over an ankle of a wearer with a second inner support member having a shape and size substantially similar to the first inner support member; supporting the sleeve of the second footwear with the second inner support member's width when the second inner support member is inserted in the second footwear's sleeve and a support structure of a shoe tree is inserted into the second footwear's sleeve; withdrawing the second inner support member from the second footwear by tensioning the tether, which is attached to extend from one end of the second inner support member.
 13. The method of claim 10 wherein the engaging the inner portion of the footwear's sleeve comprises engaging the inner portion of the footwear's sleeve with the first inner support member's resilient foam outer portion.
 14. The method of claim 10 further comprising modifying a scent of the footwear with an air freshener material disposed on or in the first inner support member. 